According to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, gone are the days when enterprising thieves would dig up an old grave and pillage for gold teeth and rings. Today, it's mostly the bronze markers and flower vases that draw their attention. Rising scrap metal prices, coupled with the lagging economy, have triggered a string of cemetery thefts both locally and across the nation.

Relatives of the deceased are, of course, angry, but also have a reason to feel guilty. One of the cemetary managers said vases that had flowers in them were left alone.

This just bolsters my argument for biodegradable cemetaries. Not only should the casket be made out of high quality cardboard, but so should the headstone. Then once a year, til the soil and bury a whole new crop of people.